Southampton 2-0 Crystal Palace: Osvaldo & Lambert seal victory

The Italy international grabbed his first goal for the club as Mauricio Pochettino's side continued their solid start to the 2013-14 campaign with a comfortable win

Southampton picked up their first league win at St Mary's this term after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 with two quick-fire second-half goals.

New boy Pablo Daniel Osvaldo netted his first goal for the club to give the hosts the lead just two minutes after the interval after an even first half.

VIEW FROM ST MARY'S

By John Stammers

It was far from a classic, but Southampton have their first home win in the Premier League this season. Morgan Schneiderlin and Rickie Lambert both went close in the first half, but it was Crystal Palace who should have taken the lead through Marouane Chamakh. The former Arsenal striker beat Artur Boruc to a loose ball and would have had an open goal to finish in to but, instead, he tumbled and received a yellow card for simulation. It was a decision he, and Ian Holloway, will now rue after quickfire goals from forward partners Pablo Osvaldo and Lambert gave Saints the points.

And when Rickie Lambert curled in a sensational free-kick just two minutes later, they were on course for victory in front of a 30,699-strong crowd.

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino made just one change from the side that sealed a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool last weekend with Steven Davis taking the place of the more attacking Jay Rodriguez.

Palace boss Ian Holloway, meanwhile, made four changes with Damien Delaney injured and Adlene Guedioura also not included, while the conditions of Jason Puncheon's loan deal meant that he missed out against his parent club. Jimmy Kebe, meanwhile, was handed his first start since joining from Reading.

The home side were the first to threaten, with Morgan Schneiderlin seeing a fine effort headed off the line by former Portsmouth player Joel Ward with just five minutes gone.

The south-coast side continued to press, though, and they began to dominate the possession before threatening again shortly afterwards through Lambert.

The England international came into the game with just one league goal so far this season, but he missed a chance to add another in the 23rd minute as he fired just over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

The visitors became increasingly frustrated as the half wore on, typified by a booking for Marouane Chamakh in the 29th minute as he was penalised for simulation when he went down in the area claiming a penalty.

Things looked set to get worse for Palace when Victor Wanyama teed up an effort a few seconds before half-time, only to fire way wide.

Whatever was said in the dressing room clearly served to reinvigorate the hosts, as just two minutes after the restart they went ahead through Osvaldo. The Italy international did not hesitate after being played in by Adam Lallana, firing home from the edge of the box.

And things got even better for Pochettino's side, two minutes later when Lambert smashed home a sensational free-kick, leaving goalkeeper Julian Speroni with no chance.

Palace manager Holloway made two substitutions in an attempt to gain a foothold back in the game, with Cameron Jerome and Jerome Thomas replacing Barry Bannan and Dwight Gayle. The switch-up did have an effect, but they could not get past a determined Southampton defence.

Their best chance went begging when Chamakh failed to connect with a cross from Thomas in the 63rd minute and Southampton looked to have added a third when Rodriguez tapped over the line in the 85th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.